Finding Help for Arjan’s Devastating Tics (Premium)

ARJAN’S MOM with commentary from Sheila DeMare, MS

My family lives in India, outside Mumbai. Our son, Arjan, is an only child and he just turned six years old. We have gone through through a very upsetting and difficult time with tics.

As some background, Arjan has generally been healthy except for some stomach issues now and then. He goes to school and enjoys outdoor games, as well as playing LEGO for hours with his friends. He tends to have a moody and sensitive temperament, but fortunately has never been overactive. He is sharp and observant.

I am not aware of anyone in our extended family who has dealt with tics, and we do not have typical allergies in the family.

Unfortunately, Arjan contracted typhoid fever nine months ago. This is a serious illness caused by the Salmonella typhi bacteria and it is very important that it be treated with antibiotics. He was on a strong 3-week course. About a month after this, he started showing a simple tic, kind of like raising his eyebrows. This movement was replaced by nose-twitching, and then that was replaced by a tic that had him gasping for breath. Later, shoulder shrugs started up, and at the same time, the nose twitch began again.